I have been thinking about the luxury of destruction and what it would be like to stomp on, flush down the toilet, or simply throw into the kitchen trash an $11,000 Omega watch or perhaps a woman’s $30,000 gem-studded jewelry set?
You ask how such destruction might happen?
We are not talking about drug deals gone bad or stolen merchandise being hidden. We are talking about lavish gifts given to state and government employees who are obligated, by law, to report and turn over a gifts received from foreign entities valued at over $480. They also have the opportunity (which very few, if any, have ever taken)to purchase these more expensive gifts at fair market value.
At thePresidential level, flushing gifts down the toilet or tossing into the trash isn’t exactly an option. And they are still obligated to turn over these expensive gifts to the National Archives, within a reasonable period of time, we might presume. For example, in 2023 Jill Biden received from the Indian Prime Minister a 7.5 carat diamond very conservatively valued at $20,000. Rather than turning it over to the National Archives, it is reportedly being held in the East Wing of the White House for undetermined purposes for an undetermined period of time.
According to the Associated Press, CIA Director William Burns received the aforementioned $11,000 Omega watch and mysteriously reports that it was another victim of undisclosed destruction and could not be handed over to National Achives. Of additional interest, a CIA employee was the recipient of the mentioned $30,000 jewelry set as well an Omega Sea Master Aquaterra watch and a ladies Omega Constellation watch–all valued at $65,100. The status of this largesse?
Reported: All destroyed. Total destruction.
But there is more.
These are required reports that federal employees must make. Sometimes painfully so.
There was another CIA employee who was reported to have received a men’s Yacht Master II Rolex Perpetual watch valued at $18,700.
Reported: Destroyed.
A second CIA employee received a ladies Rolex Oyster Datejust watch with value of $12,500.
Reported: Destroyed.
Another CIA employee reported receiving a men’s Rolex Air King watch worth $7400, while another reported getting a lady’s Rolex Oyster Datejust watch valued at $12,500.
Both reportedly destroyed.
Another reported on this government disclosure was a $7,450 Rolex Air King watch
Reported: Destroyed.
Let’s give the benefit of doubt to many government servants who receive expensive gifts and turn them over to the National Archives, where they belong. Regardless of how painful the task might be.
But are we really to believe this level of luxury destruction? Do these people really expect us to believe that they would actually destroy a Rolex rather than turn it over to the National Archives? Ditto for precious jewelry and lesser Omega watches?
And when will that 7.5 carat diamond make it to the National Archives?
These are questions we should all be asking. And perhaps the National Archives can auction off these luxurious goods and help reduce our national debt–or pay their own operating expenses.
